Duality is my intentional focus word this week. Duality is that concept that polar opposites are part of the same whole. But more than that, they are intimately related and give rise to the other. In the yin-yang symbol of Chinese philosophy, the white part of the symbol has a dot of black … Read more
If you’ve encountered stinging nettles by accident while walking or gardening, the word gift is probably not the first thing that pops into your head. Tiny stinging hairs cover the plant and brushing against them releases the plant’s venom. The sting contains formic acid, the same chemical as a bee sting, and can … Read more
I returned to my garden yesterday after a rather challenging work trip. Last week’s focus on “fascinating” was extremely helpful while I was away. But returning home to my garden immediately improved my mood. It was like coming home to a surprise party of plants. In seven days, the espalier apple and miniature … Read more
Balance is the Mindfulness Focus this week. Spring arrives at 4:28 AM Mountain Time on Monday March 20th.(1) And although spring can represent newness to many people, it’s very much about balance. Consider this – As we circle around the sun, the two equinoxes (spring and fall) are the counterpoints to the winter and summer … Read more
Dandelion Resilience Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is the mindfulness practice word for the week. The goal is to intentionally notice resilience in ourselves, others, and the world. I can’t think of a better example of resilience in the plant world than dandelions. And with Denver’s recent 60 degree days, I’ve sighted … Read more
I am loving the paper mache dragon that is slowly taking shape in my house. This is only a first edition. The ultimate goal is to create a weatherproof dragon that will live in my garden. But what, you might ask, does a paper mache dragon have to do with mindfulness? Well … Read more
Courage, my mindfulness focus for the week, was partially inspired by the first sprigs of yarrow in my garden. Yarrow (Achillea millifolium) is an ancient healing plant with the magical properties of protection and courage. Discovering the yarrow confirmed something I’d been feeling since midweek, as I was practicing invoking joy. After a heartbreaking conversation with a … Read more
A State of Wonder The focus word for this week is wonderment – a state of awe, joy, and wonder. It is funny in a way that we need to be mindful of wonder. We are traveling on a large rock through infinite space, kept alive by an intricate balance of oxygen, nitrogen, and other … Read more
Having grown up reading Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and other fantasy books, I’ve been immersed in the concept of deep magic. Most everyone knows the stories…the ring to rule them all was forged by deep magic, the stone table on which Aslan was sacrificed was built with deep magic. The magic that created these things always … Read more
“We are all connected; to each other biologically; to the earth chemically; and to the universe atomically.” That’s from Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, author and Director of the Hayden Planetarium in NYC. His explanation is simple and to the point. It might be easy to miss how profound the idea is. For much of human … Read more
